Plaza to host free City Party on Tuesday night

Living in Sonoma is so wonderful it’s nearly impossible to sing the blues. To do that you need a trained professional, like slide guitar king Roy Rogers. Rogers and his blues-belting band, the Delta Rhythm Kings, will headline the free music stage at Sonoma’s City Party on July 28.
To Mayor Ken Brown, “This event is for Sonoma Valley citizens as a give-back for all they do to make this town the very best place to live in 21st century America.” Brown who, will emcee the music stage, promises “a night of wonderful music, community connections, the Farmers Market, dancing and an all-around great time.”
The music starts at 5:45 p.m with the reigning Sonoma Idol, Danny Wirick, followed by Whiskey Thieves at 6 p.m. Headliner Roy Rogers, he of the slide guitar riffs that could peel a Farmers Market apple, takes the stage at 7p.m.
The guitarist will break out tunes from his new release, “Split Decision,” the first studio album with his band in seven years. Notes so sweet, the Plaza palms may bear fruit.
The first City Party, in 1996, was a celebration of the Sesquicentennial of The Raising Of The Bear Flag in Sonoma. It’s been held every year since. When the city finally decided to get out of the party business three years ago, the Sonoma Community Center — which produces the Fourth of July Parade, among other events — took over.
“It’s local people having a good time,” said Kathy Swett, the SCC executive director. “That’s what I love about it.”
The SCC’s Toni Castrone predicts another big crowd of five to six thousand. The stage will be set up behind city hall, she said, and the sound quality should be exceptional. “Music of this high caliber needs higher-quality stage and sound equipment,” she said. “We’re extremely grateful to the Rotary Club for making it possible.”
Holly Seaton of the Sonoma Valley Rotary Club said the organization funds a variety of projects. “We’re always looking for projects that better the community,” she said. On Tuesday night, “we will celebrate and salute the city through our support of the party.”